Programs
Operation Attack, Oasis and Housing the Homeless
Different groups and Sunday School classes from our church are responsible for serving breakfast at Oasis, our local "Soup Kitchen," every third Monday morning of each month. This outreach is coordinated through the Service Committee.
First Presbyterian Church was a founding member of
PARC -- Portsmouth Area Resources Coalition and as a continuing
member, we continue to offer services to PARC Place shelter and it
works.
Each winter, as the temperatures drop to
dangerous lows, the Downtown churches including First
Presbyterian Church, clear the floors of the various social
halls or meeting rooms so approximately 100 men and women who
have no permanent address will have somewhere warm and safe to
sleep the night. It mat not be comfortable, but it is available.
The Portsmouth Sherriff's Department sends a deputy to handle
the "check-in" and members of the congregation spend the night
to make sure all remains calm. "Partner" churches usually
prepare and serve an evening meal to the guests.
Many years ago, First Presbyterian Church established a food closet that we call Operation Attack where we attack hunger. we maintain a stock of nonperishable foods to be distributed each week to those referred to us by the Portsmouth Community Services Board. Additionally, each Thanksgiving, we prepare complete ingredients for a traditional Thanksgiving meal and distribute those packages as directed by the Community Services Board.
